Behavioural Freedomhttp://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk
Free YourselfWed, 07 Feb 2018 16:51:42 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.4How I Treat Anxiety with Hypnotherapyhttp://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/treat-anxiety-hypnotherapy/
http://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/treat-anxiety-hypnotherapy/#respondWed, 07 Feb 2018 16:51:10 +0000http://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/?p=1013How I Treat Anxiety with Hypnotherapy At Behavioural Freedom, I use a skills-based model for treating anxiety. During our sessions, I will teach you relaxation techniques and helpful ways in which you can fundamentally, positively and permanently change the way you behave, think and act. It’s also important to note here that you can’t be [...]

At Behavioural Freedom, I use a skills-based model for treating anxiety. During our sessions, I will teach you relaxation techniques and helpful ways in which you can fundamentally, positively and permanently change the way you behave, think and act. It’s also important to note here that you can’t be stressed or suffer from anxiety when you are in a relaxed state. The skills you’ll learn during your time with me will be vital to both your on-going treatment and perhaps more so as you leave my care.
For more details on how I treat anxiety with hypnotherapy, contact me today.

A combination of Applied Relaxation and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is considered by the British Medical Journal to be one of the most effective therapies to alleviate anxiety and put you on a path to having a positive mind-set and being able to live life to the fullest, free of worries. By combining both and adding in the element of hypnosis, I believe this is the most effective, pragmatic and relevant approach to the treatment of anxiety.
For more details on how I treat anxiety with hypnotherapy, contact me today.

What is the difference between anxiety & stress

If you have a constant feeling of anxiety, it will eventually start to affect your everyday life socially, personally and professionally and may, if you leave it untreated, lead to more serious mental and physical health issues.

At Behavioural Freedom, I will free you from the unwanted behaviours that prohibit you from living the life you want to live. I will free you from the uncomfortable, negative and often debilitating feelings of anxiety that control you and allow you to focus on moving forward with positivity, a fresh outlook on life and the knowledge that you can do anything you put your mind to.

You will feel calmer, more in control of your life and more confident.

‘Anxiety disorders’ is a collective term for the range of issues I treat. It’s important to know that there are no ‘off the shelf’ packages. Each client has specific and unique issues and your sessions are tailored around YOU and you only.

If you suffer from anxiety in any of its forms, including but not limited to the issues listed here, PLEASE contact me today. It could very well be the most important call you make this year.

I’m constantly asked this question when I tell people what I do. In short, Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy (CBH) combines Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) with hypnosis to give your overworked mind the tools it needs to remedy its own stresses and feelings of anxiety. It focuses on the most up-to-date theories and techniques of hypnotherapy, psychology, psychotherapy and neuroscience to reverse the feelings of stress and anxiety as well as allowing you to understand what I do and why I do it.

Does it work?

The short answer is yes. CBH is evidence-based, in that there are clinical studies validating its effectiveness as a treatment for stress and anxiety and what I do here at Behavioural Freedom is to work with you to help you make positive and lasting changes to the way you think and act. I will also look to identify the underlying causes of what makes you stressed or anxious so that in time, you will become free of the unwanted behaviours that negatively affect how you live your life.

CBH is a fully integrated approach to treatment of stress and anxiety and increasingly, it is becoming the dominant approach to clinical hypnosis.

Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) for the treatment of stress and anxiety.

What are the benefits?

The benefits to you of using CBH (backed up by solid evidence and comprehensive research) are immediate –

The addition of hypnotherapy to CBT has been proven to shorten treatment times

Hypnosis enables you to see things more vividly in your ‘mind’s eye’

Hypnosis solidifies the relationship and builds rapport between you and your therapist

You can learn to ‘self-hypnotise’ by inducing a deep state of relaxation

Under hypnosis, you have an increased opportunity of receiving and understanding the suggestions your therapist makes to free you from unwanted behaviours

What will a session of Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy be like?

At Behavioural Freedom, the process by which I plan your sessions is as individual as you and the issues you come to me about but you can get a feel for the process here.

Please contact me today to start the journey back to behavioural freedom

]]>http://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/cognitive-behavioural-hypnotherapy-cbh/feed/0Work Place Stresshttp://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/work-place-stress/
http://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/work-place-stress/#respondThu, 07 Dec 2017 16:32:30 +0000http://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/?p=979Work Place Stress & the effect on you Stress at work is common. It’s very common. According to the Health & Safety Executive, stress affects 20% of the working population, work place stress is the single biggest cause of workplace sickness in the UK and over 10.5m working days are lost to stress each year [...]

Stress at work is common. It’s very common. According to the Health & Safety Executive, stress affects 20% of the working population, work place stress is the single biggest cause of workplace sickness in the UK and over 10.5m working days are lost to stress each year – costing British employers around £1.3bn.

In addition, the NHS suggests that one in five of all GP visits are aligned to psychological issues, including stress, anxiety and depression. The occupations with the highest rates are social work, teaching and public administration. So, work place stress is a big problem.

There are a whole host of reasons why you may feel out of control or stressed at work –

For some, the adrenaline released during periods of stress can act as an energiser, giving them increased motivation to get out of the slump they find themselves in but for others, it can feel like a downward spiral from which there is no return.

Whether you have a specific concern or challenge at work or you feel overwhelmed due to a number of factors, Behavioural Freedom will work closely with you to banish the negativity and put you back on a path of positive thoughts and actions. I will give you a new lease of life that will make you look at going into work in a whole new light.

How I Treat Work Place Stress

At Behavioural Freedom, I use a skills-based model for treating work place stress. During our sessions, I will teach you relaxation techniques and helpful ways in which you can fundamentally, positively and permanently change the way you behave, think, act and react. It’s also important to note here that you can’t be stressed when you are in a relaxed state. The skills you’ll learn during your time with me will be vital to both your on-going treatment and perhaps more so as you leave my care.

A combination of Applied Relaxation and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is considered by the British Medical Journal to be one of the most effective therapies to combat stress and put you on a path to having a positive mind-set and being able to live life to the fullest, free of worries. By combining both and adding in the element of hypnosis, I believe this is the most effective, pragmatic and relevant approach to the treatment of stress.

Stress

Stress is normal. We have all suffered from stress and it isn’t limited to any particular age group, gender, socio-economic or cultural background but you can reduce its overriding effects by first recognising there’s an issue and then developing the skills to deal with it.

That’s where Behavioural Freedom comes in. Please go to my Stress page to find out more about the symptoms of stress and how I can free you from the unwanted behaviours that stop you from doing the things you really want to do.

Please contact me today to start the journey back to behavioural freedom.

]]>http://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/work-place-stress/feed/0How I treat Anxietyhttp://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/treat-anxiety/
http://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/treat-anxiety/#respondWed, 22 Nov 2017 16:41:47 +0000http://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/?p=971If you have a constant feeling of anxiety, it will eventually start to affect your everyday life socially, personally and professionally and may, if you leave it untreated, lead to more serious mental and physical health issues. Find out how I treat anxiety – Call me 01727 236 136 At Behavioural Freedom, I will free [...]

]]>If you have a constant feeling of anxiety, it will eventually start to affect your everyday life socially, personally and professionally and may, if you leave it untreated, lead to more serious mental and physical health issues. Find out how I treat anxiety – Call me 01727 236 136

At Behavioural Freedom, I will free you from the unwanted behaviours that prohibit you from living the life you want to live. I will free you from the uncomfortable, negative and often debilitating feelings of anxiety that control you and allow you to focus on moving forward with positivity, a fresh outlook on life and the knowledge that you can do anything you put your mind to.

You will feel calmer, more in control of your life and more confident.

‘Anxiety disorders’ is a collective term for the range of issues I treat. It’s important to know that there are no ‘off the shelf’ packages. Each client has specific and unique issues and your sessions are tailored around YOU and you only.

If you suffer from anxiety in any of its forms, including but not limited to the issues listed here, PLEASE contact me today. It could very well be the most important call you make this year.

How I Treat Anxiety

At Behavioural Freedom, I use a skills-based model for treating anxiety. During our sessions, I will teach you relaxation techniques and helpful ways in which you can fundamentally and positively change the way you behave, think and act. It’s also important to note here that you can’t be stressed or suffer from anxiety when you are in a relaxed state. The skills you’ll learn during your time with me will be vital to both your on-going treatment and perhaps more so as you leave my care.

A combination of Applied Relaxation and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is considered by the British Medical Journal to be one of the most effective therapies to alleviate anxiety and put you on a path to having a positive mind-set and being able to live life to the fullest, free of worries. By combining both and adding in the element of hypnosis, I believe this is the most effective, pragmatic and relevant approach to the treatment of anxiety.

Please contact me today to start the journey back to behavioural freedom.

]]>http://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/treat-anxiety/feed/0Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapyhttp://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/cognitive-behavioural-hypnotherapy/
http://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/cognitive-behavioural-hypnotherapy/#respondTue, 24 Oct 2017 07:15:08 +0000http://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/?p=956Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a talking therapy that can help you manage your problems by changing the way you think and behave. It’s most commonly used to treat anxiety and stress, but can be useful for other mental and physical health problems. Hypnosis, Hypnotherapy and my approach to Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy Hypnosis on its own isn’t considered a [...]

Hypnosis on its own isn’t considered a therapy. It’s simply an altered state of awareness that increases the power of suggestibility which then allows the therapy strategies and techniques to be used most effectively.

It is essentially a cognitive state, a special state related to belief and imagination and not a state of ‘feeling’, although it may be accompanied by various feelings.

Hypnotherapy is a fully collaborative process between you and your therapist, where your goals are discussed and once a relevant and coherent treatment plan is drawn up, you embark on a guided hypnotic journey using powerful suggestions, imagery, visualisation and mental rehearsal to achieve your goals.

What is Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy?

Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy (CBH) combines Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) with hypnosis to give your overworked mind the tools it needs to remedy its own stresses and feelings of anxiety. It focuses on the most up-to-date theories and techniques of hypnotherapy, psychology, psychotherapy and neuroscience to reverse the feelings of stress and anxiety as well as allowing you to understand what I do and why I do it.

Is there any evidence?

Controlled trials have shown that hypnosis can reduce anxiety (particularly before medical procedures). In the past five years scientific research has become more credible, thanks to the latest brain imaging technology; brain scans now prove that hypnotised subjects are more susceptible to hypnotic suggestion. In one study, volunteers were given hypnotic suggestions to “see in colour”. Scans showed that areas of the brain associated with colour perception were activated, even though the pictures they were looking at were black and white.

What are the benefits?

What I do here at Behavioural Freedom is to work with you to help you make positive and lasting changes to the way you think and act. I will also look to identify the underlying causes of what makes you stressed or anxious so that in time, you will become free of the unwanted behaviours that negatively affect how you live your life.

Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy is a fully integrated approach to treatment of stress and anxiety and increasingly, it is becoming the dominant approach to clinical hypnosis.

The benefits to you of usinCognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy (backed up by solid evidence and comprehensive research) are immediate –

The addition of hypnotherapy to CBT has been proven to shorten treatment times

Hypnosis enables you to see things more vividly in your ‘mind’s eye’

Hypnosis solidifies the relationship and builds rapport between you and your therapist

You can learn to ‘self-hypnotise’ by inducing a deep state of relaxation

Under hypnosis, you have an increased opportunity of receiving and understanding the suggestions your therapist makes to free you from unwanted behaviours

]]>http://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/cognitive-behavioural-hypnotherapy/feed/0How to overcome social anxietyhttp://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/how-to-overcome-social-anxiety/
http://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/how-to-overcome-social-anxiety/#respondFri, 15 Sep 2017 12:07:18 +0000http://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/?p=943Social anxiety disorder, sometimes called social phobia, is a constant and overwhelming fear of social situations. Many sufferers go through life accompanied by constant worries and fears which can affect their ability to take part in social activities or form relationships. It’s quite a common problem that often starts during the childhood and adolescence. Some [...]

]]>Social anxiety disorder, sometimes called social phobia, is a constant and overwhelming fear of social situations.

Many sufferers go through life accompanied by constant worries and fears which can affect their ability to take part in social activities or form relationships.

It’s quite a common problem that often starts during the childhood and adolescence. Some people just grow out of it, but for many it doesn’t go away on its own.

It can be very debilitating and have a big impact on your life, but there are ways we can help you deal with it.

Please don’t suffer in silence. There may be lots of reason why you keep your feelings of anxiety to yourself. Regardless, you can talk to me and not only can you talk to me about it, I will do something about it.

Here at Behavioural Freedom, I treat the symptoms of social anxiety using a tried and tested combination of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and hypnosis known as Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy, or CBH. You can read more about CBH here but essentially, it’s a fully integrated approach to the treatment of stress and anxiety and in a nutshell, these are the benefits to you –

The addition of hypnotherapy to CBT has been proven to shorten treatment times

Hypnosis enables you to see things more vividly in your ‘mind’s eye’

Hypnosis solidifies the relationship and builds rapport between you and your therapist

You can learn to ‘self-hypnotise’ by inducing a deep state of relaxation

Under hypnosis, you have an increased opportunity of receiving and understanding the suggestions your therapist makes to free you from unwanted behaviours

Behavioural Freedom is both the name of my business but it’s also a state of mind and my goal is to put you back on the path to behavioural freedom so you can start looking forward to tomorrow and stop dreading it.

]]>http://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/how-to-overcome-social-anxiety/feed/0Treat Workplace Stress Borehamwoodhttp://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/treat-workplace-stress-borehamwood/
http://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/treat-workplace-stress-borehamwood/#respondWed, 21 Jun 2017 19:20:16 +0000http://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/?p=873Treat Workplace Stress Stress at work is common. It’s very common. According to the Health & Safety Executive, stress affects 20% of the working population, it’s the single biggest cause of workplace sickness in the UK and over 10.5m working days are lost to stress each year – costing British employers around £1.3bn. In addition, [...]

Stress at work is common. It’s very common. According to the Health & Safety Executive, stress affects 20% of the working population, it’s the single biggest cause of workplace sickness in the UK and over 10.5m working days are lost to stress each year – costing British employers around £1.3bn.

In addition, the NHS suggests that one in five of all GP visits are aligned to psychological issues, including stress, anxiety and depression. The occupations with the highest rates are social work, teaching and public administration.

There are a whole host of reasons why you may feel out of control or stressed at work –

For some, the adrenaline released during periods of stress can act as an energiser, giving them increased motivation to get out of the slump they find themselves in but for others, it can feel like a downward spiral from which there is no return.

Whether you have a specific concern or challenge at work or you feel overwhelmed due to a number of factors, Behavioural Freedom will work closely with you to banish the negativity and put you back on a path of positive thoughts and actions. I will give you a new lease of life that will make you look at going into work in a whole new light.

How I Treat Stress

At Behavioural Freedom, I use a skills-based model for treating stress. During our sessions, I will teach you relaxation techniques and helpful ways in which you can fundamentally, positively and permanently change the way you behave, think, act and react. It’s also important to note here that you can’t be stressed when you are in a relaxed state. The skills you’ll learn during your time with me will be vital to both your on-going treatment and perhaps more so as you leave my care.

A combination of Applied Relaxation and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is considered by the British Medical Journal to be one of the most effective therapies to combat stress and put you on a path to having a positive mind-set and being able to live life to the fullest, free of worries. By combining both and adding in the element of hypnosis, I believe this is the most effective, pragmatic and relevant approach to the treatment of stress.

Please contact me today to start the journey back to behavioural freedom.

]]>http://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/treat-workplace-stress-borehamwood/feed/0Hypnotherapy for IBS St Albanshttp://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/hypnotherapy-ibs-st-albans/
http://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/hypnotherapy-ibs-st-albans/#respondWed, 10 May 2017 11:54:36 +0000http://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/?p=850Hypnotherapy for IBS St Albans Treatment aims to teach clients the necessary skills to control and help normalise the gut function by lowering the levels of anxiety, lowering the perception of pain and discomfort and by directing positive images to the gut. I have been extensively trained in gut-directed hypnotherapy which follows the therapy developed [...]

Treatment aims to teach clients the necessary skills to control and help normalise the gut function by lowering the levels of anxiety, lowering the perception of pain and discomfort and by directing positive images to the gut.

I have been extensively trained in gut-directed hypnotherapy which follows the therapy developed by Peter Whorwell, professor of medicine and gastroenterology at Manchester University, who says “During the hypnotherapy, sufferers learn how to influence and gain control of their gut function, and then seem to be able to change the way the brain modulates their gut activity’.

‘IBS is ideal for treatment with hypnosis, as there is no structural damage to the body,’ Professor Whorwell explains.

For 20 years, Professor Whorwell has treated IBS patients with hypnotherapy and has a success rate of around 70%, stating ‘it helps all the symptoms, whereas some of the drugs available reduce only a few of the symptoms.’

Editor of Frontline Gastroenterology Dr Roland Valori who is a Consultant Gastroenterologist also suggests that hypnotherapy is now a legitimate treatment for IBS; ‘It is pretty clear to me that it has an amazing effect. Of the relaxation therapies available, hypnotherapy is the most powerful.’

In an audit of the first 100 cases he referred for hypnotherapy, symptoms stopped completely in four in 10 (40%) cases of typical IBS. In a further five in 10 cases patients reported feeling more in control of their symptoms and were therefore much less troubled by them.**Source: BBC News

Gut-directed hypnotherapy is recognised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as a possible treatment for IBS and in February 2008, published guidance for GPs and consultants saying: ‘Referral for psychological interventions (cognitive behavioural therapy [CBT], hypnotherapy and/or psychological therapy) should be considered for people with IBS who do not respond to pharmacological treatments after 12 months’.

The Treatment and Benefits of Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy

The treatment package consists of an initial consultation followed by up to 12, 1-hour weekly sessions for three months. Gut-directed hypnotherapy can help you to:

Understand how the gut and brain work together

Learn relaxation techniques and new ways to manage stress

Visualise in order to decrease the sensitivity of your gut and bowels

Promote positive thinking and develop new strategies for coping

Improve well-being and increase confidence and your overall quality of life

Reduce attacks of constipation, diarrhoea, bloating and abdomen pain

Recognise the worries and fears that contribute to your IBS

Set goals to visualise a future without IBS

Learn techniques you can use at home, away from your sessions

Although hypnotherapy has proven very effective for some sufferers, IBS is still regarded as a medical condition. If you think you might have IBS then the first thing to do is visit your doctor to get their diagnosis and advice.

Once you have established with the doctor that it is IBS and believe that hypnotherapy could help you then please contact me today to start your journey back to behavioural freedom.

]]>http://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/hypnotherapy-ibs-st-albans/feed/0Hypnotherapy for IBS Edgwarehttp://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/hypnotherapy-ibs-edgware/
http://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/hypnotherapy-ibs-edgware/#respondWed, 10 May 2017 11:14:04 +0000http://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/?p=846Hypnotherapy for IBS Edgware Treatment aims to teach clients the necessary skills to control and help normalise the gut function by lowering the levels of anxiety, lowering the perception of pain and discomfort and by directing positive images to the gut. I have been extensively trained in gut-directed hypnotherapy which follows the therapy developed by [...]

Treatment aims to teach clients the necessary skills to control and help normalise the gut function by lowering the levels of anxiety, lowering the perception of pain and discomfort and by directing positive images to the gut.

I have been extensively trained in gut-directed hypnotherapy which follows the therapy developed by Peter Whorwell, professor of medicine and gastroenterology at Manchester University, who says “During the hypnotherapy, sufferers learn how to influence and gain control of their gut function, and then seem to be able to change the way the brain modulates their gut activity’.

‘IBS is ideal for treatment with hypnosis, as there is no structural damage to the body,’ Professor Whorwell explains.

For 20 years, Professor Whorwell has treated IBS patients with hypnotherapy and has a success rate of around 70%, stating ‘it helps all the symptoms, whereas some of the drugs available reduce only a few of the symptoms.’

Editor of Frontline Gastroenterology Dr Roland Valori who is a Consultant Gastroenterologist also suggests that hypnotherapy is now a legitimate treatment for IBS; ‘It is pretty clear to me that it has an amazing effect. Of the relaxation therapies available, hypnotherapy is the most powerful.’

In an audit of the first 100 cases he referred for hypnotherapy, symptoms stopped completely in four in 10 (40%) cases of typical IBS. In a further five in 10 cases patients reported feeling more in control of their symptoms and were therefore much less troubled by them.**Source: BBC News

Gut-directed hypnotherapy is recognised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as a possible treatment for IBS and in February 2008, published guidance for GPs and consultants saying: ‘Referral for psychological interventions (cognitive behavioural therapy [CBT], hypnotherapy and/or psychological therapy) should be considered for people with IBS who do not respond to pharmacological treatments after 12 months’.

The Treatment and Benefits of Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy

The treatment package consists of an initial consultation followed by up to 12, 1-hour weekly sessions for three months. Gut-directed hypnotherapy can help you to:

Understand how the gut and brain work together

Learn relaxation techniques and new ways to manage stress

Visualise in order to decrease the sensitivity of your gut and bowels

Promote positive thinking and develop new strategies for coping

Improve well-being and increase confidence and your overall quality of life

Reduce attacks of constipation, diarrhoea, bloating and abdomen pain

Recognise the worries and fears that contribute to your IBS

Set goals to visualise a future without IBS

Learn techniques you can use at home, away from your sessions

Although hypnotherapy has proven very effective for some sufferers, IBS is still regarded as a medical condition. If you think you might have IBS then the first thing to do is visit your doctor to get their diagnosis and advice.

Once you have established with the doctor that it is IBS and believe that hypnotherapy could help you then please contact me today to start your journey back to behavioural freedom.

]]>http://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/hypnotherapy-ibs-edgware/feed/0Hypnotherapy for IBS Borehamwoodhttp://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/hypnotherapy-ibs-borehamwood/
http://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/hypnotherapy-ibs-borehamwood/#respondWed, 10 May 2017 11:07:42 +0000http://www.behaviouralfreedom.co.uk/?p=842Hypnotherapy for IBS Borehamwood Treatment aims to teach clients the necessary skills to control and help normalise the gut function by lowering the levels of anxiety, lowering the perception of pain and discomfort and by directing positive images to the gut. I have been extensively trained in gut-directed hypnotherapy which follows the therapy developed by [...]

Treatment aims to teach clients the necessary skills to control and help normalise the gut function by lowering the levels of anxiety, lowering the perception of pain and discomfort and by directing positive images to the gut.

I have been extensively trained in gut-directed hypnotherapy which follows the therapy developed by Peter Whorwell, professor of medicine and gastroenterology at Manchester University, who says “During the hypnotherapy, sufferers learn how to influence and gain control of their gut function, and then seem to be able to change the way the brain modulates their gut activity’.

‘IBS is ideal for treatment with hypnosis, as there is no structural damage to the body,’ Professor Whorwell explains.

For 20 years, Professor Whorwell has treated IBS patients with hypnotherapy and has a success rate of around 70%, stating ‘it helps all the symptoms, whereas some of the drugs available reduce only a few of the symptoms.’

Editor of Frontline Gastroenterology Dr Roland Valori who is a Consultant Gastroenterologist also suggests that hypnotherapy is now a legitimate treatment for IBS; ‘It is pretty clear to me that it has an amazing effect. Of the relaxation therapies available, hypnotherapy is the most powerful.’

In an audit of the first 100 cases he referred for hypnotherapy, symptoms stopped completely in four in 10 (40%) cases of typical IBS. In a further five in 10 cases patients reported feeling more in control of their symptoms and were therefore much less troubled by them.**Source: BBC News

Gut-directed hypnotherapy is recognised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as a possible treatment for IBS and in February 2008, published guidance for GPs and consultants saying: ‘Referral for psychological interventions (cognitive behavioural therapy [CBT], hypnotherapy and/or psychological therapy) should be considered for people with IBS who do not respond to pharmacological treatments after 12 months’.

The Treatment and Benefits of Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy

The treatment package consists of an initial consultation followed by up to 12, 1-hour weekly sessions for three months. Gut-directed hypnotherapy can help you to:

Understand how the gut and brain work together

Learn relaxation techniques and new ways to manage stress

Visualise in order to decrease the sensitivity of your gut and bowels

Promote positive thinking and develop new strategies for coping

Improve well-being and increase confidence and your overall quality of life

Reduce attacks of constipation, diarrhoea, bloating and abdomen pain

Recognise the worries and fears that contribute to your IBS

Set goals to visualise a future without IBS

Learn techniques you can use at home, away from your sessions

Although hypnotherapy has proven very effective for some sufferers, IBS is still regarded as a medical condition. If you think you might have IBS then the first thing to do is visit your doctor to get their diagnosis and advice.

Once you have established with the doctor that it is IBS and believe that hypnotherapy could help you then please contact me today to start your journey back to behavioural freedom.